doesn't seem to be much love for the man here... umm just in case someone decides to check him out or something, i compiled this for another forum.
here's my opinion on the albums... i know its different for everyone, but. i wouldn't mind day dreaming about capt for a few minutes anyway, read if you want i guess
my 3 suggestions to start with are "trout mask replica", "safe as milk" and "doc at the radar station"
* Safe as Milk (1967) - the first album of his i got, back in high school. a pretty safe place to start... really bluesy, probably considered weird at the time, but i dunno, nothing compared to the rest. i remember falling in love with "autumns child"... then quickly the rest of the album. very hip and not to hard to take at all.
* Strictly Personal (1968) - i was first exposed to most of these songs, because they were bonus tracks on my version of safe as milk. the songs "safe as milk", and "trust us" are still amongst my favorites. interesting stuff, when he first started branching out. the album is famous for the fact that in post production, without don's approval, there where phasers added to everything. i much prefer the outtakes on safe as milk, umm but either way, good songs and such
* Trout Mask Replica (1969) - his epic, and for good reasons. while already a big fan of his, this album was a lot to take in one bite. especially because it's so long. soooo many good songs though, or.. amazing parts hidden behind other things. this album is one of those things that you catch different things each time. but god damnit, the whole album is so good. "frownland". "moonlight on vermont". "my human get me blues". "dali's car". "when big joan sets up". "steal softly through songs". "veterns day poppy". these are my favorites, and i feel horrible leaving out any others. definitely a must have.
* Lick My Decals Off, Baby (1970) - many people consider this a sister album to trout mask, and the connection is pretty obvious, pretty wild album, a bit more together maybe... i don't like it nearly as much as trout mask, but many people consider it even better. some killer songs though. "peon" and "petrified forest" are the songs that made me give this album a chance in the first place, sooooo good lol and yeah, i dunno, i just get lost in this album still
* Mirror Man (1971) - not gonna lie, never really got into it. i like it, just.. i got it at a time when i wasn't a beefheart mood, and i dunno, it just never grew on me... i need to give it another shot. i just don't feel confident giving a review on it lol
* The Spotlight Kid (1972) - pretty awesome lol. well, pretty good at least. the first time i was like WTF IS THIS cause its a total change in style, but... i dunno, if you want a sample, check out "i'm gonna booglarize you baby" and "white jam", those are my favs. "click clack" is cool.. hmm, i like the mood of the album though, i usually listen to it the whole way through.
* Clear Spot (1972) - i don't know about everyone else, but i like this album. "big eyed beans from venus" is a killer tune, "nowadays a woman's got to hit a man", and.. oh man, "her eyes are a blue million miles" is just gorgeous. sooo good. even my ex loved that one. its a pop album though, well most of it, lol, its still weird, but some really mainstream songs at some points. i know a friend of mine, a fellow beefheart fanatic couldn't take it, fucking hated it lol. but as long as you're ready for that sound, it's a pretty enjoyable listen.
* Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974) - lol. okay. "upon the my-o-my" is pretty good... "i got love on my mind" is okay... i don't know, don't start here. die hard fans only, need to check this out haha. pretty rough though.
* Bluejeans & Moonbeams (1974) - underrated i think. i mean, not great, but i consider it way better then unconditionally guaranteed, it's too bad that they're usually grouped together. don't get me wrong, i wouldn't start here either, but like. "party of special things to do" is a good track i think. "further then we've gone"... "same old blues", "observatory crest" and i dunno, i chill out to this album sometimes lol. not as embarrassing as the previous one. the cover is nice too lol.. but yeah, the album is not his masterpiece or anything.
* Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (1978) - fucking right, thats more like it. only album i have on vinyl, maybe thats why i like it so much. only 1 or 2 songs on it that i don't like, really. ummm harry irene i think, big turn off lol but i love the rest of the album its really great.
* Doc at the Radar Station (1980) - even better then shiny beast. MAYBE. lol. they're both pretty good... probably my most listened to beefheart album in the last year or so. i just love the whole feel of it. "sue egypt", "dirty blue genes", SO great haha awesome songs, and really, a great album, i suggest it. "sheriff of hong kong." "ashtray heart" "best batch yet"... oh, and "flavour bud living"... man this is a sweet album haha
* Ice Cream for Crow (1982) - not bad lol umm the poem "81 poop hatch" inspired a series of paintings for me. and some good songs, good as an album i think, rather then individual songs. definitely better then the tragic band period, but i wouldn't start with this one either.
* BONGO FURY. can't forget that... a frank zappa live album thing with beefheart.. honestly, don't know all the details on it, he toured with zappa i think, but... it rules haha. some of it at least. "debra kadabra" and "carolina hard core ecstacy" are definitely worth listening to, fucking love those tunes. listen to them a lot
so... my 3 suggestions to start with are "trout mask replica", "safe as milk" and... umm "doc at the radar station". but i'm sure you'll make your way through all of them once he gets his hooks into yo
Posted: 17 Dec 2010, 23:09